Storage and Transport of Hygroscopic Products

ABSTRACT

The techniques described herein relate to an apparatus that includes an ISO shipping container with a steel frame and a corrugated profile, a removable reflective material covering at least 75% of at least one surface of the ISO shipping container, and adhesive to connect the reflective material to the ISO shipping container. A method for shipping hygroscopic products is also described, where the method includes loading the hygroscopic products into an ISO shipping container, sealing the ISO shipping container, covering a roof of the ISO shipping container with a reflective material by pushing the ISO shipping container under a roller rolling out the reflective material onto the ISO shipping container, adhering the reflective material to the ISO shipping container with an adhesive, transporting the ISO shipping container to a destination, removing the reflective material from the ISO shipping container, unsealing the ISO shipping container, unloading the hygroscopic products from the ISO shipping container, and providing to the recipient of the hygroscopic products with the physical and chemical time series of the measurements captured during the storage and the transport of the ISO shipping container.

CROSS REFERENCE

This patent application is a priority patent application.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventions relate generally to the field of thetransportation of goods. More specifically, the present inventionsdiscuss the storage and transportation of hygroscopic products.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONS

There is a need in the industry to limit and avoid the deterioration inthe quality of hygroscopic products during storage and transport. Suchdeterioration extends from a decrease in the quality of the organolepticproperties of the hygroscopic products reducing their market valuationto the partial or complete loss of value of the hygroscopic products.

Hygroscopic products are sensitive to the environment. The main types ofdamage occurring during the transport and/or storage of hygroscopicproducts are:

-   -   Loss of quality and value of the hygroscopic products, in        particular, their organoleptic properties    -   Loss due to localized bacteria and fungi on a portion of the        hygroscopic products    -   Generalized loss of the hygroscopic products due to bacteria and        fungi    -   Temperature evolutions of hygroscopic products and their        surrounding humid air are widely recognized as changing the        quality of the hygroscopic products and controlling and        influencing bacterial and fungal growth. In particular, in        environments where temperatures and water activity are elevated,        such growth is rapid.

The current methods to avoid loss of quality, bacterial growth andfungal growth affecting hygroscopic products address the free waterresulting from condensation and the moisture contained in the air insidethe container. These current methods are using:

-   -   cardboards on the internal walls of shipping containers to        absorb free water from condensation    -   desiccant bags attached to the walls of the shipping container        to absorb air moisture special ventilated containers.    -   plastic sealed enclosures containing an inert gas, such as        nitrogen or carbon dioxide.

The value of a hygroscopic product and its derivative products followingindustrial food processes is determined by the organoleptic qualities ofthe product in the final form given to the consumer.

Measurement techniques used in food science have progressed so thatcomprehensive quantitative determination of the key components providingthe sensory impacts is starting to be available for many food products.Measurement methods vary with the volatile and non-volatile fractions ofthe final product, but they identify, quantify and rank the chemosensoryactive molecules in their sensory impact, aka its sensometabolome. Therelevance of the active molecules is further confirmed using tastereconstruction and modifying or omitting some molecules to explore andunderstand the possible range at dose-over-threshold of tastants such asbitterness, astringent or sweetness and odors, offered to the consumerin different final products.

Active molecules of raw and processed products can be altered inquantity and nature by storage and transport due to changes of theenvironment during their storage or transport.

While for insurance purposes only damages are covered, the reduction orabsence of changes during the storage and transport due to a bettercontrolled environment is a key positive factor in the valuation of theproducts for food industrials and consumers alike.

However, current methods fail to manage the temperature within theshipping container and are limited in their management of wateractivity. The present description overcomes this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatusincluding: an ISO shipping container with a steel frame and a corrugatedprofile, the ISO shipping container including twist-lock mechanisms oneach of eight corners of the ISO shipping container; a reflectivematerial covering at least 75% of at least one surface of the ISOshipping container; and adhesive to connect the reflective material tothe ISO shipping container. The adhesive does not permanently affix thereflective material to the ISO shipping container

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectional diffusereflective material layer.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer isembossed. In some cases, this is in order to create an omnidirectionaldiffusion.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatusfurther including an insulation layer between the ISO shipping containerand the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the insulation layer is scrim. The scrim may be used toreinforce the structural backing of the omnidirectional reflectivematerial.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the insulation layer is rock wool.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the insulation layer is attached to the omnidirectional diffusereflective material layer with an adhesive material.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the at least one surface of the ISO shipping container is a roofof the ISO shipping container.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape. The adhesive could be used toattach the reflective material, scrim and insulation layer to theexterior of the container.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to an apparatuswherein the reflective material does not cover the twist-lockmechanisms. The international markings of the container could also beleft uncovered.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method ofshipping hygroscopic products including: loading the hygroscopicproducts into an ISO shipping container; sealing the ISO shippingcontainer; covering a roof of the ISO shipping container with areflective material by pushing the ISO shipping container under a rollerrolling out the reflective material onto the ISO shipping container;adhering the reflective material to the ISO shipping container with anadhesive; transporting the ISO shipping container to a destination;removing the reflective material from the ISO shipping container;unsealing the ISO shipping container; and unloading the hygroscopicproducts from the ISO shipping container.

The reflective material could also include scrim and insulation. Theadhesive could include one or more segments of adhesive tape.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectional diffusereflective material layer.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer isembossed.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein a second roller embosses the omnidirectional diffuse reflectivematerial layer as the reflective material is rolled out.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the reflective material includes an insulation layer between theISO shipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflectivematerial layer. The reflective material could also include scrim.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the insulation layer is scrim.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the insulation layer is rock wool.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the insulation layer is attached to the omnidirectional diffusereflective material layer with an adhesive material. A scrim layer couldbe attached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layerwith an adhesive material.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodwherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape. One or more segments of theadhesive tape could ne used to attach the combination of layers to thecontainer.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a methodfurther including covering a side of the ISO shipping container with thereflective material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container with insulation.

FIG. 2 is a cutout view of the layers of insulation.

FIG. 3 is a view of rollers for installing the insulation.

FIG. 4 is a view of the rollers as a container is being covered.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTIONS

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present inventions and are not intended tolimit the scope of the present inventions.

In the text below, the term “container” 101, unless specified otherwise,is used to describe all types of enclosures used for transport and/orstorage of hygroscopic products. For example, the container 101 could bean ISO shipping container. Known as intermodal containers, the standardsteel boxes used for mobile storage across land and sea are madeaccording to strict specifications established by the InternationalOrganization for Standardization (ISO). These shipping container designstandards cover everything from size to markings to the quality of steelused for construction, as well as the allowed gross weight of the ISOcontainer. A freight container may be intended for permanent andrepeated use and may be designed specifically to facilitate thetransportation of goods. It could also be fitted with devices that willmake it easy to handle and transfer from one type of transportation toanother. Freight containers that meet ISO specifications could be botheasy to fill and empty and they could have an internal volume of atleast one cubic meter. An ISO container is a type of freight containerthat meets the relevant ISO container standards.

The description herein discusses ways to control the fungal, bacterialgrowth, and organoleptic quality of the hygroscopic products by:

-   -   preventing the start of fungal and bacterial growth in the first        place,    -   limiting or avoiding the changes, if any, of the organoleptic        quality of the hygroscopic products,    -   measuring the physical and chemical evolutions over time and        location of the hygroscopic products,    -   providing a detailed document with the time series of the values        measured as an attestation on the minimal changes, if any, of        some of the organoleptic characteristics of the hygroscopic        products since their initial storage in the container,    -   determining the location of the container 101 or the times of        state changes due to loading and unloading of the container 101        during transport using time-stamped data in relation to the        measured changes in the physical and chemical of the hygroscopic        products.

This could be achieved in particular by:

-   -   using an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material that        scatters the reflective rays of the sun over a large solid        angle,    -   covering with such material a portion or all the exposed surface        of the container 101, which lowers the thermal exchange due to        solar rays with the container 101, hence avoiding large        evolutions of the temperature inside the container 101,    -   avoiding sudden glares for the operators and viewers of the        container 101,    -   monitoring and measuring physical and chemical parameters        impacting organoleptic properties of the hygroscopic products        inside the container 101,    -   saving the time series of these measurements,    -   combining them with location or time-stamped state changes of        the container 101 such as loading and unloading during        transport,    -   sharing with the recipient and others, such as insurance        companies, the time series of the measurements of the        hygroscopic products and their environment contained in the        container 101 as an attestation and material proof of the        storage and transport conditions of the hygroscopic products,    -   facilitating the resolution of litigations among participants on        who are the responsible parties to a claim, and    -   improving the logistics for hygroscopic products by using the        more successful shipments as a guide and avoiding a repeat of        the less successful ones.

Most common fungi and bacteria do not start to grow on hygroscopicproducts at a local water activity range below 0.91, and most moldscease to grow at a water activity below 0.70. Decreased water activityin combination with other physical or chemical variables, such as pH,temperature, or modified atmosphere packaging, may limit microbialgrowth even at water activities higher than 0.91.

The descriptions herein lower the temperature and the water activitywell below 0.91, prevents the start of the bacterial growth, andmaintains afterward, in most cases, a water activity well typicallybelow 0.70.

Looking to FIG. 1 , a container 101, such as an ISO shipping container,is shown. The container 101 is covered by a diffuse reflective covering102. In some embodiments, the top is the only surface covered. Inanother embodiment, the sides and the top are covered. In still a thirdembodiment, the top, three sides, and the door 104 are covered by thediffuse reflective covering 102. When covering the container 101, theeight corners 103 a-g may be left uncovered. In addition, the ISOstandards require certain marking 105 a-c on each side and the top ofthe container. In some embodiments, these markings 105 a-c are leftuncovered. In other embodiments, the markings 105 a-c are covered by atransparent covering rather than the reflective covering 102. In stillother embodiments, the reflective covering 102 is marked with the ISOMarkings 105 a-c. In this embodiment, at least of 75% of at least onesurface (wall, roof, door) of the container is covered.

The exterior of the container 101 is covered with reflective material102 (possibly including a secured omnidirectional diffuse reflectivelayer 201) attached to it which reflects and scatters the reflected sunrays from the parallel sun rays received.

If it were a mirror, the reflected parallel rays of the sun on a planarface of the container 101 would not be dispersed and would create asudden glare for some of the observers receiving them according to thechanges in their relative position with respect to the position of thesun and the position of the container 101.

In order to avoid such sudden glares, the omnidirectional diffusereflective material foil 201 may be created or further processed bycreating little impressions on the material foil through embossing or byother means. This greatly enlarges the solid angle through which the sunrays are reflected avoiding an on-off sudden experience of the glaresand a decrease in their perceived intensity by the observers.

In FIG. 2 , a cut-away section of the reflective material 102 installedon the ISO shipping container 101 is shown. The reflective material 102comprises an outer layer of an omnidirectional diffuse reflectivematerial layer such as aluminum foil. In some embodiments, this foil 201is embossed to diffuse the reflections. The embossing of the foil couldbe done on premise or prefabricated. In some embodiments, a layer ofinsulation 203 is attached to the foil 201 with a first adhesive layer202. The role of the insulation 203 is to further slow down the residualamount of energy exchanged through the steel of the container 101 andthe variations due to the environment and the diurnal cycles. Theinsulation layer 203 could be of a material such as scrim, rock woolmaterial, slag wool material, cellulose insulation, natural fiber(cotton, wool, hemp, straw) insulation, Polystyrene, Polyisocyanurate,Polyurethane, or similar materials. In some embodiments, multiple layersof insulation 203 could be used with the same or different materials.

While the scrim may have some insulative qualities, one role of thescrim is to reinforce the thin layer of reflective product 201 so itdoes not be broken easily through manipulations. One of the scrimsurfaces is coated with an adhesive and this surface is placed under thereflective material and is attached to its non-exposed surface. Examplesmay include 3M Scrim reinforced adhesive on one side for permanent bond,pallet tape Scrim, one side tacky, one side non tacky, or Fiberglassscrim with adhesive coating.

The diffuse reflective material 102 may be connected to the container101 with a second adhesive layer 204. On embodiment uses adhesive tape204. The role of the adhesive tapes 204 is to ensure that the differentpieces of the cover or the single piece of the cover are properlyattaching the cover to the container 101 leaving free the corners 103a-h of the containers 101 and the markings 105 a-c of the container.These adhesive tapes 204 are strong but can be removed. In otherembodiments, adhesive tape is applied to the edges of the diffusereflective material 102 to adhere the diffuse reflective material 102 tothe container 101 or to other sections of the diffuse reflectivematerial 102. The second adhesive layer 204 or the tape may haveadhesive properties that are strong enough to hold the diffusereflective material 102 to the container during severe ocean storms butweak enough to allow the diffuse reflective material 102 to be easilyremoved. The adhesive material could be a directional adhesive such asGecko Tape, 3M Command Adhesives, industrial flooring marking tapes, orwater resistive adhesives.

Since the walls and roof of an ISO container 101 are corrugated, theremay be air gaps 205 a-d that provide additional insulation properties.

The material foil 201 may be strengthened by scrim or other reinforcingmaterial 203. One or several additional layers providing insulation 203can also be added to the foil 201.

By using reflective material 102, the amount of energy received by thecontainer 101 of hygroscopic products during the solar exposition isdecreased, temperature variations such as the diurnal cycles aresmaller. As a consequence, the hysteresis cycles observed on mosthygroscopic products which generally show a lag during waterreabsorption of free water are scaled-down. For certain hygroscopicproducts, chemical desiccants in enclosed bags may be used as long theyare not in contact with the hygroscopic products and do not emit gasesor compounds which interact chemically with the hygroscopic products.

There are many materials 201, which are available in foils or sheets,where the exposed surface, once processed, provides an omnidirectionaldiffuse reflection, such as processed aluminum and PTFE in solid form orcoated on a substrate. In a preferred embodiment, when the material 201applied is from a roll of foil, the reflection can be further diffusedby attaching to the roller 301,302,303 unfolding the foil 201, a secondset of rollers through which the foil will be drawn, having onecylindric roller with a hard material covered with very small bumps, andthe other covered with a softer material which will allow the embossingof the foil before it is cut to the desired length. Embossing has beenused in graphic arts and the hard material roller may on a portion ofits surface emboss alphanumeric characters and/or logos of a company.

As an example, most of the energy received by an ISO shipping container101 of 20 feet in length with metal sides originates from solarradiation through the roof and exposed sides of the container. Directvertical sun radiation at sea level on the roof of such container 101 isapproximately 1000 W/m2 for the whole range from UV of 300 nm to IR of2500 nm. Additional diffuse solar radiation is typically well below 100W/m2.

The material 201 described above reflects most of the solar radiationand emits thermal radiation. This method limits the amount of heatconducted through the metal structure of the container 101 and thevolume enclosure of the container 101 to a low percentage of theoriginal solar energy received.

The ISO normalization for shipping containers 101 defines several typesof containers, all of which have a steel frame structure of specificdimensions to which the enclosure containing the cargo is attached. Inaddition, the steel structure has specific dimensions and twist-lockmechanisms located at each of the 8 corners 103 a-g of the container. Insome embodiments, the twist-lock mechanisms are automatic, and in othersthe mechanism is manual, requiring a person to set and unset eachtwist-lock wile stacking.

The nature of the enclosure can vary, for example:

-   -   for general goods, including hygroscopic products, the steel        frame structure is completed by metal sides and form the        enclosure.    -   for the transport of liquids, the enclosure is a tank    -   for bulk transport, the enclosure has openings which can be        easily activated for loading and unloading the cargo,    -   for easy access on the ground, some sides of the container are        curtains which can be drawn open and closed.        In all cases, the thickness of the material 201 used with its        additional layers such as scrim 203 and insulation layers could        be within the dimensional tolerances provided for each ISO type        of container 101.

By using an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material 201 to cover theISO container 101 of the cargo, the reflective material 201 provides ascattered reflection instead of the specular reflection of a perfectmirror. This increases the solid angle of the reflection, avoids suddenflashes, and decreased the perceived intensity of the reflectedscattered rays for the viewers of the material, including operators asthe container 101 moves its position relative to the sun. In someembodiments, the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material 201 alsoincludes a non-slip coating or properties so that workers can safelywalk across the top of the container 101.

This creates only a minimal inconvenience for the operators duringtransshipment, warehousing, or change in the mode of transport, forexample, port to maritime or maritime to port (stevedoring with gantrycranes to rail or road) or from rail to road or road to rail (usinghandling equipment mounted with spreaders).

This invention is very effective at limiting the transfer of solarenergy to the cargo of hygroscopic products located inside the container101.

As an illustration, the roof of an ISO shipping container 101 of 20 feetin length with all-metal sides receives ˜1000 W/m2 from vertical sunrays at sea level. A standard aluminum foil 201 placed on the roof ofthe ISO container 101 with its matte side exposed will reflect 961 W/m2.In addition, using the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, the thermal energy emittedfrom the top surface of the aluminum foil 201 in contact with ambientair at 25° C. is 17 W/m2.

This means that the heat transferred through the roof of the ISOshipping container 101 to the inside of the ISO shipping container 101is further reduced to a small fraction of the direct solar energy. (22W/m2 out of 1000 W/m2).

The top of an ISO shipping container 101 has a corrugated profile whichleaves an air gap 205 a-d between a foil 201 and the metal of thecontainer 101 of a few centimeters limiting the conduction through abouthalf of the roof surface. One or several additional layers of insulation203 and strengthening can be added to the foil 201 within tolerances ofa standard ISO shipping container 101. The conducted heat received bythe metal of the ISO shipping container 101 is further dispersed by themass of metal of the ISO shipping container 101 and the mass of thehygroscopic products themselves.

In some embodiments, when on the quay of the departure port, before theISO shipping container 101 is loaded for storage or transport, theprocessed reflective foil or layer 201 can be secured, for example,using rolls of foil 301,302,303, which could be of standard 4 ft width,to cover the roof of the container 101 and adding adhesive tape inlength and across the width of the container roof. The sides of thecontainer may also be protected. Corner castings 103 a-g used byspreaders for loading and unloading during transport may be leftuncovered so that spreaders of gantry cranes and platforms forterrestrial transport can use male twist-lock mechanisms to secure thecontainer 101.

In other embodiments, the reflective material 102 could be applied atthe point of filling of the container or at the first point of storage.

FIG. 3 shows one possible apparatus for applying the diffuse reflectivematerial 102 to the shipping container 101. The apparatus may be builtwithin a frame 315 of square steel truss arranged in an uprightrectangle. In some embodiments, the frame 315 is attached to a loadingdock with steel rollers on the dock. The container 101 is pushed orpulled through the frame 315. In another embodiment, the frame 315 is onwheels or rails, and the frame 315 moves over the container 101.

A top roller 301 is attached to the frame 315 with a top roller frame316. The top roller frame could be as simple as a dowel through thecenter of the roller attached to the frame 315. In other embodiments, aspring mechanism could be used to keep the top roller 301 in contactwith the top of the container 101. The top roller 301 holds the diffusereflective material 102. In some embodiments, a second top roller isinstalled to emboss the diffuse reflective material 102 to diffuse thereflections. In some embodiments, a mechanism for cutting the diffusereflective material 102 is also mounted to the frame 315.

A left roller 302 and a right roller 303, each holding the diffusereflective material 102. In some embodiments, a second left roller and asecond right roller are installed to emboss the diffuse reflectivematerial 102 to diffuse the reflections. In some embodiments, amechanism for cutting the diffuse reflective material 102 is alsomounted to the frame 315 near the left and right rollers 302,303. Theleft roller 302 may be attached to the frame 315 with a left rollerupper frame 313 and a left roller lower frame 314. The left roller upperframe 313 and a left roller lower frame 314 may be mounted to the frame315 on hinges and pulled in line with the frame with springs so thatwhen a container 101 is drawn through the frame 315, the left roller 302is held against the container 101. Similarly, the right roller 303 maybe attached to the frame 315 with a right roller upper frame 311 and aright roller lower frame 312. The right roller upper frame 311 and aright roller lower frame 312 may be mounted to the frame 315 on hingesand pulled in line with the frame with springs so that when a container101 is drawn through the frame 315, the right roller 303 is held againstthe container 101.

FIG. 4 shows a container 101 being drawn through the frame 315. Theright roller 303 and the left roller 302 may open up under the force ofthe container 101 as it is drawn through. The top roller 301, leftroller 302, and the right roller 303 may roll out the diffuse reflectivematerial 102 as the container 101 is drawn through, covering thecontainer 101 with the diffuse reflective material 102.

Installation costs per container 101 (materials and loaded labor) at theorigin port or storage place of the hygroscopic products are reasonable.

The exposed side of the omnidirectional diffuse reflective foil 201reflects solar rays in a scattered way and creates a minimalinconvenience for the operators during stevedoring processes.

When removed in the case of transport at the port of arrival, thereflective material 102 could be easily taken off or left on. When takenoff, the container 101 may be back in its original condition. Thecontainer 101 may be now ready for unsealing and unloading at the finaldestination.

Removal costs at the arrival port are also low. In the case of aluminumfoil 201, it may be recycled. In the US, for example, about 75% of allthe aluminum produced in the U.S. is still in use today, according tothe Aluminum Association. Most aluminum foil can be recycled over andover again without any loss of quality. The installation 203 and removalloaded costs are comparable to the costs of other current solutions.

Note that, when a standard container 101 has been prepared for shipmentand sealed, if the arrival of the ship to the port is delayed, thecontainer 101 is waiting on the quay. A reflective material 102(possibly including an omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer201) could be used as a protective cover during the unplanned stay atthe port of origin or transshipment and removed when loading thecontainer 101 on board.

As an example of value, in the 2021 market, the cocoa beans cargo valueof a 20 ft shipping container 101 is approximately $30,000 for a fullcargo of 12,480 Kg. A loss of quality of 10% would reduce the priceafter settlement by $3,000. The inventions describer herein have a verypositive outcome if the organoleptic quality at the origin ismaintained. The costs at scale for implementing the invention correspondto a few thousandths of the value of the total cargo.

The inside of the container 101 may be physically and chemicallymonitored through measuring instruments placed inside, perhaps focusingcharacteristics impacting organoleptic properties. Measuring instrumentssuch as thermometer, hygrometer, pH meter, manometer, speedometer, gassensors, spectrometer provide time series of the corresponding observedvariables during the storage and transport. Instruments may be selectedaccording to the nature of the hygroscopic products inside the container101. The instruments could provide the recipient of the hygroscopicproducts with the physical and chemical time series of the measurementscaptured during the storage and the transport of the ISO shippingcontainer.

A locator providing the global position of the container 101 may also beincluded. It could be a GPS system installed with the container 101, butthere may be current limitations in the sensitivity of GPS due to themetal of the container 101 and the weakness of the signals received. Thelocator could be mounted outside and protected by the door handlebarsand connected to the instrument package inside the container 101.

Although obtaining a direct value of the location of the container 101may be a solution, another is to have inside the container 101 one orseveral triaxial accelerometers which will be capturing data in acontinuous fashion or at a very high sample rate. Current accelerometerswith their electronics have limitations when combining the doubleintegration of their results with dead reckoning to compute an estimateof the real-time position of the ship or terrestrial vehicle. For thepurpose of determining the logistic phases of the transport, eachloading and unloading may generate a burst of data with a much greateramplitude which may be easy to interpret and could be time stamped. Thistime-stamped data could be correlated with the planned or unplannedstates, such as transshipments, of the container during the shipment.

The log of these time series of the instruments and the time-stampedstate changes may be used to provide an attestation of the conditions ofthe stored hygroscopic products from the time of its storage in thecontainer 101 to the time of his exit from storage in the container 101.When the hygroscopic products are transported, the instruments couldprovide the internal physical and chemical evolutions of themeasurements within the container 101 during each of the successivestates.

This valuable data could be key to regularly improve the process andkeep the organoleptic qualities of the hygroscopic products as close aspossible to their original values when delivered to a processing plantor to the end consumer. The time-series data could also be used toaddress imperfections of the logistics in the supply chain of thehygroscopic products due to planned or unplanned events, such astransshipments and demurrages, and simplify the search of theresponsible party or parties when a claim happens.

In a further implementation, some part of the roof may be covered bymaterial capturing the solar radiation and converting the solarradiation to electricity. This electric power could be used to power themeasuring instruments and also to activate one or several fans toaccelerate the time to equilibrium between hygroscopic products, air,and container 101 structure, therefore further limiting the amplitude ofthe local thermal and water activity variations inside the container.

The residual energy received from the solar radiation may be absorbed bythe metallic structure of the container 101 and the hygroscopic productsthemselves, but without forced ventilation, it may take time to come toa state of endothermic equilibrium for the whole.

A photovoltaic laminate with quick-connect terminals could be placed onthe outside of the container 101 on top of the aluminum foil 201 andgenerate enough electricity to power a small ventilator located insidethe container 101 and connected to the photovoltaic laminate.

The ventilator may be active if the container 101 is exposed to solarradiation. When, for example, the container 101 is stacked among others,the container may not receive solar radiation, and theendothermic/exothermic equilibrium may be more easily reached withoutany further significant local thermal variation amplitude.

When the container 101 is exposed to solar radiation, the ventilator maybe active and could accelerate the time to equilibrium by moving the airwithin the container 101 and facilitate the distribution of the residualenergy received into the metallic structure of the container 101 and itshygroscopic contents. This may further decrease the chance of having awarmer spot among colder spots, or a cold one among warmer ones withinthe container 101.

Desiccant bags placed inside the container 101 could absorb humidityresulting from a temperature change along the sorption curve andpossible water resulting from the hysteresis of the hygroscopic productsthrough the temperature changes.

This system could also be linked to a battery in order to facilitate theuse of the ventilator in all conditions.

The foregoing devices and operations, including their implementation,will be familiar to, and understood by, those having ordinary skill inthe art.

The above description of the embodiments, alternative embodiments, andspecific examples, are given by way of illustration and should not beviewed as limiting. Further, many changes and modifications within thescope of the present embodiments may be made without departing from thespirit thereof, and the present inventions include such changes andmodifications.

1. An apparatus comprising: an ISO shipping container with a steel frameand a corrugated profile, the ISO shipping container comprisingtwist-lock mechanisms on each of eight corners of the ISO shippingcontainer; a reflective material covering at least 75% of at least onesurface of the ISO shipping container wherein the reflective materialdoes not cover labels on the ISO shipping container; and a firstadhesive to connect the reflective material to the ISO shippingcontainer, where the first adhesive does not permanently affix thereflective material to the ISO shipping container.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectionaldiffuse reflective material layer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 whereinthe omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer is embossed. 4.The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an insulation layer betweenthe ISO shipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflectivematerial layer.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the insulation layeris scrim.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the insulation layer isrock wool.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the insulation layer isattached to the omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with asecond adhesive material.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the atleast one surface of the ISO shipping container is a roof of the ISOshipping container.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the firstadhesive is an adhesive tape.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein thereflective material does not cover the twist-lock mechanisms.
 11. Amethod of shipping hygroscopic products comprising: loading thehygroscopic products into an ISO shipping container; sealing the ISOshipping container; covering a roof of the ISO shipping container with areflective material by pushing the ISO shipping container under a rollerrolling out the reflective material onto the ISO shipping containerwherein the reflective material does not cover labels on the ISOshipping container; adhering the reflective material to the ISO shippingcontainer with a first adhesive; transporting the ISO shipping containerto a destination; removing the reflective material from the ISO shippingcontainer; unsealing the ISO shipping container; and unloading thehygroscopic products from the ISO shipping container.
 12. The method ofclaim 11 wherein the reflective material includes an omnidirectionaldiffuse reflective material layer.
 13. The method of claim 12 whereinthe omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer is embossed. 14.The method of claim 13 wherein a second roller embosses theomnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer as the reflectivematerial is rolled out.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein thereflective material includes an insulation layer between the ISOshipping container and the omnidirectional diffuse reflective materiallayer.
 16. The method of claim 15 wherein the insulation layer is scrim.17. The method of claim 15 wherein the insulation layer is rock wool.18. The method of claim 15 wherein the insulation layer is attached tothe omnidirectional diffuse reflective material layer with a secondadhesive material.
 19. The method of claim 11 wherein the first adhesiveis an adhesive tape.
 20. The method of claim 11 further comprisingcovering a side of the ISO shipping container with the reflectivematerial.